Did your favorite Saints preseason standout make the cut? The New Orleans Saints have officially announced their 2025 practice squad, bringing back familiar faces and some surprising names. From promising tight ends to crucial backup quarterbacks, discover who made the team and how it impacts their season. What do these signings mean for the Saints’ roster flexibility and their Week 1 matchup?

The New Orleans Saints have strategically assembled their 2025 practice squad, marking a crucial step in fortifying their roster depth ahead of the upcoming NFL season.

This vital component of any NFL team allows franchises to retain promising talent and provide immediate call-up options, ensuring preparedness for the rigors and inevitable injuries of a demanding schedule. For the Saints, these initial signings reflect deliberate decisions to maintain flexibility and support their active 53-man roster.

Among the notable additions is tight end Treyton Welch, who showcased significant receiving prowess throughout the preseason. Despite his impressive performances, Welch, an undrafted free agent, narrowly missed a spot on the active roster, where the Saints opted for just two tight ends. His inclusion on the Saints practice squad, however, strongly indicates a high likelihood of Week 1 elevation to contribute to the passing game.

Further reinforcing the tight end position on the practice squad is Jack Stoll, providing additional experience and an immediate backup option. This strategic move ensures the Saints have multiple avenues to address potential needs at the position, allowing them to remain competitive without sacrificing long-term development in the 2025 NFL season.

The team also secured the services of kicker Smyth, recognized for his powerful leg and improved consistency late in the offseason. Smyth serves as a valuable backup to Blake Grupe, who demonstrated exceptional performance during training camp and preseason. Retaining Smyth underscores the Saints’ commitment to special teams depth and provides a reliable contingency plan for the crucial kicking game.

In a move that generated some surprise, quarterbacks Jake Haener and Hunter Dekkers both returned to the Saints practice squad. Haener’s initial cut was unexpected given the perceived uncertainty at the quarterback position, with many anticipating the team might carry three on the active roster. However, the Saints ultimately named Spencer Rattler their starting quarterback, with rookie Tyler Shough moving into a backup role, highlighting their quarterback development strategy.

This decision to keep Haener and Dekkers on the NFL practice squad highlights the team’s strategy to develop young signal-callers while maintaining options should the need arise. Although a veteran quarterback addition to the active roster before the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals remains a possibility, the current practice squad setup ensures a developmental pipeline for the position.

These practice squad signings collectively contribute to the New Orleans Saints’ overall organizational strength, providing a crucial layer of talent that can be integrated quickly. The strategic retention of these players demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to managing roster fluctuations and maximizing potential, setting a solid foundation for the 2025 NFL season.